Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

At every level, the fear is still there: you just keep showing up anyway…You might surprise yourself!- Brandi 
Nicki, is back, because she is just the BEST! We talk about imposter syndrome and how it doesn’t disappear as you grow, but instead evolves, and how Nicki pushed through that fear when designing the cover of her newest interactive watercolour book (yes… you can actually paint inside it, which is SO fun and freeing).  
We get a little geeky about art supplies (because obviously): Getting into colour theory, composition, and how using muted tones with intentional pops of brightness can completely change how your work feels, something even Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec mastered so beautifully. 
But beyond the art… this conversation is about the magic of choosing a creative life. Start every day off for you, move your body, create, and honour your passion: The travel, the connection, the community, and how artists really do find each other and create the most meaningful experiences together.
Two Takeaways
1. Paint through the doubtImposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re not ready — it means you care. The next level always comes with new fear… so bring it with you and create anyway. 
2. Let colour support your nervous systemMuted, earthy tones can calm and ground your work, while small pops of bright colour create focus and energy. It’s not about using more — it’s about using it with intention. 

Portrait Class with Cyantotype just DROPPED! Last Day SALE! CODE: ART30 

You can find Nicki’s new interactive watercolour book here:
👉 https://lifeidesign.com (check her shop/books section)

Artist's don't retire! Our Art is there to guide us through life. 
- Brandi 
This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast   Creative Pivots & Trusting Your Gut  we sit down with UK artist Tabby Booth for a fun, honest, and inspiring conversation about trusting your gut, following your creative instincts, and allowing your art practice to lead the way. 
We talk about creative pivots, showing up through every season, and how making art can help you figure out real life along the way. This is a reminder that artists don’t retire, they just keep creating, evolving, and painting their way through a long, beautiful life. This is one chat you want to be a part of, it is full of joy, artist authenticity, and real life talk! 

Two Takeaways
Trust the process. Your art practice will guide you if you keep showing up, even when you don’t have all the answers.
Lean into creative pivots. When something feels off, follow the pull instead of forcing the path. That’s where growth happens.

Check out Tabby's new Substack https://substack.com/@tabbybooth

Find Your Type, Find Your Creative Freedom by knowing your Enneagram type! On this episode of Colour Me Happy, I sit down with Anna Paniak to talk about overcoming fear and what actually happens when you discover your Enneagram type. We get into how it’s not about putting yourself in a box, but about understanding your patterns so you can finally move through them.
We chat about the three centres, creativity, and how self-awareness can shift you out of comparison and into actually thriving in your own life and work. This one is about coming back to who you really are.

2 Takeaways
Notice your patterns, don’t live in them

Stop comparing and start creating from your truth (put your phone down and start already, I am also talking to myself here!)

When women support each other creatively, it stops feeling like competition and starts feeling like magic. - Brandi
In this episode, I sit down with the incredible women behind Goodtype to talk about the modern day romance of creative collaboration. Instead of gatekeeping or competing, these artists are sending each other DMs, voice memos, and constant encouragement as they build something bigger together.
We dive into the founding of Goodtype and how a shared love of lettering and design grew into a thriving creative platform. We also unpack the world of art licensing and how artists can turn their work into another stream of income while staying true to their style.
If you have ever wondered how artists actually support each other behind the scenes, or how your artwork could live beyond the canvas, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about community and opportunity.

Two Takeaways
Your art people matter
Some of the best opportunities start with a simple DM or voice memo. When creatives genuinely support each other, everyone rises together.

Art licensing can expand your creative income
Your artwork does not have to live in just one place. Licensing allows your designs to show up on products, publications, and collaborations while creating another income stream for artists.
Exciting News! They just launched their NEW BOOK! Follow Your Art HERE: https://goodtype.us/follow-your-art-book

Art is the place where you can hold everything. The pain, the healing, the strength. When you move through hard currents, creativity reminds you that there are still glimmers of light through the darkness. - Brandi

I had the pleasure of meeting Rose at an Art Workshop that we held on the Island last summer, so here she is with her full story on the podcast: In this powerful episode, I chat with Canadian artist Rose Currie from Vancouver Island about how creativity can be a lifeline through life’s hardest battles. Rose shares her journey of surviving cancer twice while raising three sons as a single mother and returning to art as a form of healing. Her figurative paintings of a woman with “flowering bruises” explore strength, vulnerability, and the body’s reawakening.
Rose turned her personal struggles into a deeply moving exhibition, sharing her story of resilience through her work. Her art reminds us that even in the darkest currents, creative expression can help us process pain, find footing, and connect with others in meaningful ways.
Two Takeaway Tips
1. Let your art hold what life feels too heavy to carry alone.
Creativity can be a powerful place to process pain, healing, and growth. When you allow your work to be honest, it often resonates deeply with others.
2. It is never too late to claim your creative path.
Rose began university at 29 and finished in her early 30s. Sometimes life experience gives you the perspective to appreciate your creative journey even more.